Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine capable of reducing operational noise of a drainage pump. The washing machine includes a water tub installed in an outer case, a drainage pump adapted to drain wash water from the water tub, and a fixing device adapted to fix the drainage pump. The fixing device includes a support member extending from the drainage pump, vibration-proof members arranged to support an outer surface of the support member, and fixture members fixed to an inner surface of the outer case and adapted to support outer surfaces of the vibration-proof members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2004-51658, filed on Jul. 2, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and moreparticularly, to a washing machine which can prevent vibrations of adrainage pump from being transmitted to an outer case.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a washing machine includes a water tub for containing washwater, a rotating tub installed in the water tub having, and formed at aperipheral surface thereof with, a plurality of through-holes for use ina dry cycle, and a driving device for driving the rotating tub. Inaddition, the washing machine includes a water supply device supplyingthe wash water into the water tub, and a drainage device draining thewash water from the water tub.

In such a washing machine, the drainage device is adapted to forciblydrain the wash water from the water tub and conventionally includes adrainage pump, a drainage filter, and a drainage pipe. The drainage pumptypically includes a pump casing containing an impeller and a drivingmotor. The drainage filter is used to filter impurities from the washwater before the wash water enters the drainage pump. The drainage pipeis used to guide the discharge of the wash water. In a conventionaldrainage device, the drainage pump is fixed to the inner bottom surfaceof the outer case of the washing machine.

However, in the washing machine described above, since a support for thedrainage pump is fixed directly to the bottom surface of the outer caseby bolts or other fasteners, vibration, generated during operation ofthe drainage pump, is transmitted along the bottom surface of the outercase, resulting in operational noise.

One proposal put forward to solve the operational noise problem relatedto the drainage pump is Korean Patent No. 10-0238970 (published on Jan.15, 2000). The 10-0238970 patent discloses a washing machine comprisinga damper member which is interposed between a bracket supporting thedrainage pump and a frame of the washing machine. The bracket is adaptedto attenuate vibration generated by the drainage pump, the damper memberand the bracket being fixed to each other by means of bolts penetratingthrough the frame of the washing machine.

Although the above described installation structure of the drainage pumpmay attenuate the vibration of the drainage pump to some extent throughthe use of the damper member, vibration of the bracket, used to supportthe drainage pump, is still transmitted to the frame of the washingmachine through the fixing bolts, resulting in an unsatisfactoryvibration attenuation effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above mentionedproblem. Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide a washingmachine which can reduce vibration transmitted from the drainage pump tothe outer case of the washing machine, through the use of an improvedinstallation structure for the drainage pump.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparentfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

To achieve the above and/or other aspects and advantages, the presentinvention provides a washing machine including an outer case, a watertub installed in the outer case, a drainage pump adapted to drain washwater from the water tub, and a fixing device adapted to fix thedrainage pump. The fixing device includes: a support member extendingfrom the drainage pump; vibration-proof members arranged to support theouter surface of the support member; and fixture members attached to theouter case that are adapted to support the outer surfaces of thevibration-proof members.

The vibration-proof members may include first and second vibration-proofmembers, which are coupled to oppose each other such that they supportopposite sides of the outer surface of the support member. Thevibration-proof members surround the outer surface of the supportmember.

The first and second vibration-proof members may have toothed portionsformed at their opposite coupling surfaces, in order to enhance acoupling force between both the vibration-proof members.

The first and second vibration-proof members may be formed with grooves,and at the outer surface of the support member are formed protrudingribs, in order to enhance a coupling force between the vibration-proofmembers and the support member.

The support member may have a crucial cross section, and the first andsecond vibration-proof members may have coupling recesses correspondingto the shape of the outer shape of the support member.

The vibration-proof members may have a plurality of through-holes.

The fixture members may include first and second fixture membersenclosing the outer surfaces of the vibration-proof members.

The coupling direction of the first and second fixture members mayintersect with the coupling direction of the first and secondvibration-proof members.

The first and second fixture members may have protrusions and receivingholes for the engagement of their contact portions.

The first and second fixture members may have respective insertion slotsformed at their upper surfaces so that the support member is insertedinto the first and second fixture members, the insertion slots beingspaced apart from the support member.

The fixing device may further include screw-fastening portions providedon the fixture members in order to fix the fixture members to the innersurface of the outer case and fixing screws inserted into thescrew-fastening portions.

The majority of the drainage pump, except for a portion fixed by thefixing device, may be spaced apart from the outer case.

The fixing device may include, a support member extending from the pump,vibration-proof members arranged to support an outer surface of thesupport member, and fixture members adapted to support outer surfaces ofthe vibration-proof members and fixed to an inner surface of the outercase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine in accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a drainage pump anda fixing device for use in the fixing of the drainage pump according tothe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III′shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the installation structure ofa filter case according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the presentinvention by referring to the figures. Although the present invention isapplicable to both a pulsator-type washing machine and a drum-typewashing machine, hereinafter only the drum-type washing machine will beexplained for the convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine according to the presentinvention includes a drum-type water tub 11 installed in an outer case10 and adapted to contain wash water, a rotating drum 12 rotatablyinstalled in the water tub 11, and a driving motor 13 installed belowthe water tub 11 and adapted to rotate the rotating drum 12 installed inthe water tub 11. In addition, the washing machine includes a watersupply device 14 installed above the water tub 11 and adapted to supplythe wash water into the water tub 11, a detergent supply device 15adapted to supply detergent in a water supply cycle, and a drainagedevice 20 installed below the water tub 11 and adapted to forcibly drainthe wash water from the water tub 11.

Openings are provided at respective corresponding front ends of theouter case 10, water tub 11, and rotating drum 12 for putting laundryinto the rotating drum 12 or taking the laundry out of the rotating drum12 through the openings. In order to open or close the openings, a door16 is installed at the front end of the outer case 10.

Although not shown, the rear end of the rotating drum 12 is centrallycoupled to a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is rotatably supportedat the center of the rear end of the water tub 11 such that the rotatingdrum 12 is rotatably installed in the water tub 11. Such a rotatingshaft, extending rearward from the water tub 11, is coupled to a pulley,and in turn, the pulley is connected to another pulley, coupled with arotating shaft of the driving motor 13, by means of a belt 17. In thismanner, according to the rotation of the shaft of the driving motor 13,the rotating drum 12 rotates. The rotating drum 12 includes a pluralityof through-holes formed throughout the peripheral surface thereof. Therotating drum 12 also includes a plurality of lifters 12 a arrangedaround the inner peripheral surface thereof and adapted to allow easylifting and dropping of the laundry when the rotating drum 12 rotates.

The detergent supply device 15 includes a detergent case 15 a installednear the front end of the outer case 10, and a detergent container 15 btaking the form of a drawer so that it can be inserted into or retractedfrom the detergent case 15 a, thereby allowing an appropriate amount ofdetergent to be placed in the detergent container 15 b when thedetergent container 15 b is retracted from the detergent case 15 a, asshown in FIG. 1.

The water supply device 14 includes a pair of external water supplypipes 14 a, a pair of first water supply pipes 14 b connected betweenthe external water supply pipes 14 a and the rear end of the detergentcase 15 a, a second water supply pipe 14 c connected between thedetergent case 15 a and the water tub 11, and a pair of water supplyvalves 14 d installed at the inlet side of the first water supply pipes14 b for controlling the supply of water. When the water supply valves14 d are opened to supply the water, the water is supplied into thewater tub 11 via the detergent supply device 15, such that the detergentfilled in the detergent supply device 15 can be supplied into the watertub 11 along with the water.

The drainage device 20, installed below the water tub 11, includes adrainage pump 30 adapted to forcibly drain the wash water contained inthe water tub 11 to the outside, a first drainage pipe 21 connectedbetween the water tub 11 and the drainage pump 30, and a second drainagepipe 22 extending from the drainage pump 30 to the outside of the outercase 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the drainage pump 30 includes a drainagecasing 35, which is an integral combination of a filter case 31 and apump case 33. Here, the filter case 31 internally defines a filterchamber 32, and the pump case 33 internally defines a pump chamber 34,such that the filter chamber 32 and the pump chamber 34 form separatespaces sectionalized from each other. The drainage pump 30 furtherincludes a filter 36 which is received in the filter chamber 32 and isadapted to filter impurities contained in the wash water to be drained,an impeller 37 rotatably installed in the pump chamber 34, and a motor38 mounted at one side of the pump case 33 and adapted to drive theimpeller 37. The drainage pump 30 is fixed to an inner bottom surface 10b of the outer case 10 by means of a fixing device 50.

The filter case 31 of the drainage casing 35 includes an inlet port 39formed at the lateral upper portion thereof, through which the washwater to be drained is introduced. To the inlet port 39 is provided aninlet pipe 40 for use in the connection of the first drainage pipe 21.At a lower position on the filter case 31 opposite to the inlet port 39is formed an outlet port 41 communicating with the interior of the pumpchamber 34, thereby allowing the wash water to flow from the filterchamber 32 to the pump chamber 34.

The filter case 31 is further formed at the front end thereof with anopening 31 a for use in the removal of the filter 36 received in thefilter chamber 32. One end of the filter 36 is provided with a cap 42,which is used to mount the filter 36 in the filter chamber 32. The cap42 is also used to close the opening 31 a of the filter case 31. Forthis, throughout the outer periphery of the cap 42 and the innerperiphery of the opening 31 a formed at the filter case 31, threads 42 aand 31 b are provided. The cap 42 is rotatably coupled to the end of thefilter 36. In this way, in a state wherein the filter 36 is completelyinserted in the filter chamber 32, the cap 42 is rotated such that itcan be fastened to the opening 31 a of the filter case 31, therebyclosing the opening 31 a.

Referring to FIG. 4, the filter case 31 is installed in such a fashionthat the opening 31 a of the filter case 31 and the cap 42 are exposedto the outside through an opening 10 c formed in the outer case 10, suchthat a user can separate the filter 36 from the filter case 31 at theoutside of the outer case 10 in order to wash the filter 36. The opening10 c of the outer case 10, for exposing the cap 42 to the outside, islarger than the filter case 31, such that the filter case 31 is radiallyspaced apart from the outer case 10. This has the effect of preventingvibration generated during the operation of the drainage pump 30 frombeing transmitted to the outer case 10.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the pump case 33, defining the pump chamber34, is opened at one side thereof, and the open side of the pump case 33is closed as the motor 38 is mounted to the pump case 33. The pump case33 has an outlet port 43 for discharging the wash water from the pumpchamber 34 to the outside when the impeller 37 is driven. The outletport 43 is connected to an outlet pipe 44 to which the second drainagepipe 22 is attached.

With such a configuration of the drainage pump 30, first, the wash waterintroduced from the water tub 11 to the filter chamber 32 is filteredwhile passing through the filter 36 received in the filter chamber 32,and then, the filtered wash water flows into the pump chamber 34. In thepump chamber 34, the impeller 37, rotated by the motor 38, dischargesthe wash water from the pump chamber 34 to the outside through theoutlet port 43, thereby draining the wash water from the water tub 11 tothe outside.

The fixing device 50, used to fix the drainage pump 30 to the bottomsurface 10 b of the outer case 10, includes a support member 51extending downward for a predetermined length from the lower surface ofthe drainage casing 35, vibration-proof members 52 and 53 installed tosurround the lower portion of the support member 51 to support it, andfixture members 54 and 55 fixed to the bottom surface 10 b of the outercase 10 such that they enclose the outer surfaces of the vibration-proofmembers 52 and 53 to support them.

The support member 51 is integrally formed with the drainage casing 35through injection molding of a conventional resin material. The supportmember 51 extends downward from the lower surface of the drainage casing35. The support member 51 is positioned to correspond to the center ofgravity of the drainage pump 30, such that it can attenuate thevibration of the drainage pump 30 and stably support the drainage pump30. Further, the support member 51 has a crucial cross section, suchthat it can secure strength thereof sufficient to support the drainagepump 30, and can be firmly coupled with the vibration-proof members 52and 53 without shaking.

The vibration-proof members are made of an elastic rubber material, andinclude first and second vibration-proof members 52 and 53, which arecoupled to oppose each other such that they can support opposite sidesof the support member 51. In such a coupled state, the first and secondvibration-proof members 52 and 53 define a width larger than the maximumwidth of the support member 51, such that they can completely surroundthe lower portion of the support member 51. The first and secondvibration-proof members 52 and 53 are provided with toothed portions 52a and 53 a along edge areas of their-opposite surfaces to be coupledwith each other in order to enhance a coupling force therebetween. Thefirst and second vibration-proof members 52 and 53 are further providedwith coupling recesses 52 b and 53 b corresponding to the shape of anouter surface of the support member 51 having the crucial cross section,such that they can support the outer surface of the support member 51 ina close contact state. In this way, the support member 51 can be stablysupported by the two vibration-proof members 52 and 53.

In order to enhance a coupling force between the two vibration-proofmembers 52 and 53 and the lower outer surface of the support member 51,the support member 51 is formed at the lower outer surface thereof withprotruding ribs 51 a, and the two vibration-proof members 52 and 53 areformed with retaining grooves 53 d at the inner surfaces of the couplingrecesses 52 b and 53 b thereof, such that the protruding ribs 51 a arefitted in the retaining grooves 53 d, respectively. Further, the firstand second vibration-proof members 52 and 53 are perforated with aplurality of through-holes 52 c and 53 c in order to increase theattenuation of vibration transmitted to the support member 51.

The fixture members include first and second fixture members 54 and 55,which are configured to enclose the outer surfaces of the first andsecond vibration-proof members 52 and 53 to support them. The first andsecond fixture members 54 and 55 are coupled laterally to thevibration-proof members 52 and 53 in such a fashion that they come intoclose contact with the outer surfaces of the vibration-proof members 52and 53. In this way, the first and second fixture members 54 and 55 cansupport the overall periphery and upper surfaces of the twovibration-proof members 52 and 53. For the engagement of the two fixturemembers 54 and 55, the fixture members 54 and 55 are formed at theircontact portions with protrusions 54 a and 55 a, and receiving holes 54b and 55 b. In an engaged state, as fixing screws 56 are fastened toscrew-fastening portions 54 d, 54 e and 55 d provided at the fixturemembers 54 and 55, the two fixture members 54 and 55 are fixed to theinner bottom surface 10 b of the outer case 10. It should be understoodthat the coupling direction of the first and second vibration-proofmembers 52 and 53 intersects with the coupling direction of the firstand second fixture members 54 and 55, such that the vibration-proofmembers 52 and 53 can be more firmly coupled to each other by thefixture members 54 and 55.

The first and second fixture members 54 and 55 are spaced, at theirupper surfaces, apart from the support member 51, thereby beinginsulated from the support member 51. For this, the first and secondfixture members 54 and 55 are formed at their upper surfaces withinsertion slots 54 c and 55 c, such that the insertion slots 54 c and 55c are spaced apart from the support member 51. This has the effect ofpreventing the vibration, transmitted from the drainage pump 30 to thesupport member 51, from being transmitted to the fixture members 54 and55, thereby preventing the vibration of the drainage pump 30 from beingtransmitted to the outer case 10.

When it is desired to fix the drainage pump 30 using the above describedfixing device 50, the first and second vibration-proof members 52 and 53are first coupled to opposite sides of the lower portion of the supportmember 51. Then the first and second fixture members 54 and 55 arecoupled to the vibration-proof members 52 and 53 such that the couplingdirection of the fixture members 54 and 55 intersects with the couplingdirection of the vibration-proof members 52 and 53. Finally, as thefixing screws 56 are fastened, the two fixture members 54 and 55 arefixed to the bottom surface 10 b of the outer case 10.

When the drainage pump 30 is fixed as stated above, the majority of thedrainage pump 30, except for a portion fixed by the fixing device 50, isspaced apart from the outer case 10 so the transmission of vibrationfrom the drainage pump 30 to the outer case 10 is minimized. Further,when the drainage is fixed as stated above, since the support member 51is spaced apart from the fixture members 54 and 55 by interposing thevibration-proof members 52 and 53, and the support member 51 issupported only by the vibration-proof members 52 and 53, the vibrationsof the drainage pump 30 transmitted to the support member 51 can beminimized. This minimizes vibration of the outer case 10 due to thevibration of the drainage pump 30, resulting in a reduction inoperational noise of the washing machine.

As is apparent from the above description, a washing machine accordingto the present invention is configured in such a fashion that a drainagepump is supported only by a support member, and in turn, the supportmember is supported only by vibration-proof members, which are supportedby fixture members spaced apart therefrom, thereby achieving aremarkable decrease in vibration transmitted from the drainage pump tothe outer case of the washing machine, resulting in a reduction inoperational noise of the washing machine.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. A washing machine comprising an outer case, a water tub installed inthe outer case, a drainage pump adapted to drain wash water from thewater tub, and a fixing device adapted to fix the drainage pump, thefixing device comprising: a support member extending from the drainagepump; vibration-proof members arranged to support an outer surface ofthe support member; and fixture members adapted to support outersurfaces of the vibration-proof members and fixed to an inner surface ofthe outer case.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thevibration-proof members include first and second vibration-proofmembers, which are coupled to oppose each other such that they supportopposite sides of the outer surface of the support member, both thevibration-proof members surrounding the outer surface of the supportmember.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the firstand second vibration-proof members have toothed portions formed at theiropposite coupling surfaces, in order to enhance a coupling force betweenboth the vibration-proof members.
 4. The washing machine according toclaim 2, wherein the first and second vibration-proof members are formedwith grooves, and at the outer surface of the support member are formedprotruding ribs, in order to enhance a coupling force between thevibration-proof members and the support member.
 5. The washing machineaccording to claim 2, wherein the support member has a crucial crosssection, and the first and second vibration-proof members have couplingrecesses corresponding to the shape of the outer shape of the supportmember.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thevibration-proof members have a plurality of through-holes.
 7. Thewashing machine according to claim 1, wherein the fixture membersincludes first and second fixture members enclosing the outer surfacesof the vibration-proof members.
 8. The washing machine according toclaim 7, wherein a coupling direction of the first and second fixturemembers intersects with a coupling direction of the first and secondvibration-proof members.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 8,wherein the first and second fixture members have protrusions andreceiving holes for the engagement of their contact portions.
 10. Thewashing machine according to claim 7, wherein the first and secondfixture members have respective insertion slots formed at their uppersurfaces so that the support member is inserted into the first andsecond fixture members, the insertion slots being spaced apart from thesupport member.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 1, whereinthe fixing device further comprises: screw-fastening portions providedat the fixture members in order to fix the fixture members to the innersurface of the outer case; and fixing screws fastened into thescrew-fastening portions, respectively.
 12. The washing machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the majority of the drainage pump, exceptfor a portion fixed by the fixing device, is spaced apart from the outercase.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the supportmember is integrally formed with the drainage pump through injectionmolding of a resin material.
 14. The washing machine according to claim1, wherein the vibration-proof members are made of an elastic rubbermaterial.